osu creative writing major

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Creative Writing

The creative writing minor provides students options for in-depth study of the craft of creative writing. The progression of courses enhances critical reading skills and gives students the tools they need to create original fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. (CREATWR-MN)

Oregon State University

Academic Catalog

Creative writing undergraduate major (ba, hba).

This program is available at the following location:

The creative writing major’s disciplinary foundations are the study of the craft of creative writing combined with rigorous study of literature. Students develop their expertise in reading literature in conjunction with their development of writing craft.

The program objectives are to produce majors who can think and write creatively and with imaginative power. They’ll have highly trained analytical, critical, technical, and editorial skills, preparing them for graduate work in a range of fields, from the MFA to law school, or for a job market with an increasing demand for imaginative thinkers and skilled writers who can construct masterful, meaningful narratives.

Major Code: 092

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Analyze craft in a variety of forms, genres, and cultural contexts.
• Apply aesthetic principles to their own creative work.
• Respond to the work of peers in oral and written critiques.
• Use practices of revision to produce polished and/or publishable manuscripts.
• Recognize and interpret a wide variety of literature and genres (may include visual material and inter-cultural texts) using a range of theoretical and interpretive strategies including close reading, and write effective arguments about these texts.

BA Requirements 

Major requirements.

The following courses can meet the pre/post-1800 or elective requirement (if not used elsewhere) depending on course content assigned by the instructor:

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the  Academic Advising  page.

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Welcome to the School of Writing, Literature and Film!

The School of Writing, Literature and Film is the privileged place at Oregon State University for students, scholars, creative writers, and rhetoricians to gather together to discuss, critique, love, and celebrate the English language in all its diverse forms. We offer a number of degree programs, including undergraduate majors in English and Creative Writing and minors in English , Writing , Film , and Applied Journalism . We also host two fully-funded graduate programs: an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing .

These degrees testify to both the marvelous capaciousness of the English language and the enduring importance of learning its many modes and forms. It is a medium that can, after all, bring people together or push them apart. It is a platform that enables us to tell our stories--real or imagined--in poetry, prose, and film.  It is a communication system through which we share our worldviews and think through our most pressing local, national, and global problems. It is our bridge to older cultures, histories, stories, and traditions that challenge and inform the values of the present. Students therefore leave our programs not only with skills suitable for a variety of careers and professions but also, and as importantly, with a deeper knowledge of the many ways in which our language and culture give meaning to our lives. 

Look for these highlights on our website:

• Our English Letter , which tells current stories about the lives and achievements of our talented students and faculty
• Our Events page, which offers a glimpse into the many lectures, readings, and meetings that make Moreland Hall a vibrant community space
• Our Stone Award prize, which is one of the most substantial awards for literary achievement offered by any university in the country
• Our popular public outreach projects, including The Oregon State Guide to Literary Terms , The Oregon State Guide to Grammar , and the online Romeo and Juliet , which have been viewed by millions of students, teachers, and lovers of English language and literature around the world

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Statement of principles:.

The School of Writing, Literature, and Film affirms its commitment to supporting all students, including those who may face discrimination based on race, nationality, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, class, and immigration status. As scholars, writers, and filmmakers, we recognize the power of words and images to shape as well as challenge discourses that dehumanize minoritized populations. In the light of recent efforts to end DACA and to block immigration from Muslim-majority countries, as well as the resurgence of white supremacist movements in our community and around the US, the critical interrogation of such rhetoric and the material oppressions it produces matters more than ever. We remain committed to creating and maintaining inclusive and diverse spaces in which students can learn.

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English Major Concentrations

Congratulations, you have chosen English as your major! But your choices don’t stop there. In addition to the joys of analyzing literature from all over the world from various time periods, students can specialize in one of four academic areas:

• Literature, Film, and Popular Culture Studies (offered in full at Newark)
• Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy (offered in full at Newark)
• Creative Writing: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
• English Pre-Education

Choosing a specialization allows students the opportunity to tailor an academic path for themselves based on their interests and long-time goals. It is possible to begin your English major without choosing a concentration, and the faculty and staff on campus are more than willing to discuss concentrations with students.

For more information on concentrations, contact Dr. Dan Keller, English Coordinator, at [email protected].

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Campus: Columbus, Lima, Marion, Mansfield, Newark

College: Arts and Sciences

English students explore the worlds of Octavia Butler, interpret and perform Shakespeare’s plays, study the impact of colonialism in literature and culture, and track the cultural reception of Jane Austen.

They analyze Halo and other video games; they consider comic series and their fandoms; they study digital media and the rhetorical structure of protests.

They craft short stories, sonnets and creative non-fiction essays. They publish blog posts and produce videos. They write research papers, grant proposals and technical reports, and they organize social media campaigns.

They become persuasive speakers, empathetic listeners, critical readers and sophisticated writers.

Most importantly, they are prepared to thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing professional environments.

Get started

On admission to the university, students can declare a major in English within the College of Arts and Sciences. Interested students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an English undergraduate advisor as early as possible to discuss course requirements, study abroad opportunities and post-graduation career plans.

Specializations

Students choose one of four concentrations  based on their interests and their career goals:

• Literature, Film, Folklore and Popular Culture Studies 
• Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy 
• Creative Writing: Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry 
• English Pre-Education (for students interested in teaching middle and high school English)

Students have the option to begin their English major course work without declaring a specialization, and they may switch specializations without delaying their progress towards a degree should their interests and goals change over the course of their academic career.

Career preparation 

The English department offers a course focused on career planning for English majors. During this course, students meet with alumni, examine the value of attending graduate or professional school, organize internship and job searches, and prepare job application and interview materials. 

Study abroad

Short-term and summer study abroad programs are available through the Department of English. 

Students enrolled in the department’s Literary Locations course spend a semester studying a site of literary importance (e.g., the Caribbean, Ireland, London, Rome or Venice) before embarking on a ten-day class trip to that location. For their participation in the course and the subsequent trip abroad, students earn four hours of upper-level English credit. Students can also repeat the course, provided the second version focuses on a different location, for a total of eight credit hours.

Students interested in living abroad for a longer period can spend four weeks studying and exploring London with members of the English faculty and earn three hours of upper-level credit toward their major through the department's Literature and Culture of London Summer Program .

Students are encouraged to pursue internships that will better prepare them for entry-level jobs in a wide variety of career fields or graduate school. Students can also earn academic credit for internships and other real-world experiences. 

Students can speak with English undergraduate advisors about career interests and receive assistance with locating internship opportunities related to their career goals.

Honors and Scholars

Members of the Honors Program in the Arts and Sciences complete an Honors version of the English major. As part of the 12-course major, these students take at least two upper-level Honors seminars.    For detailed information about Honors and Scholars opportunities, visit honors-scholars.osu.edu .

Our students regularly pursue independent research and creative projects under the direction of English faculty. These projects allow students to explore issues of personal, scholarly and creative importance; to solve complex problems using skills they have honed in the classroom; and to produce new knowledge and solutions that reflect their unique perspectives, talents and abilities.

In recent years, students have completed research projects focused on translations of Beowulf , pirates in 18th- and 19th-century British literature, postmodern conceptions of time and space in the work of Cormac McCarthy, rhetoric and 21st-century U.S. politics, the role of poetry in the education of lawyers, dystopian fiction and women’s reproductive rights, and gender-inclusive housing at Ohio State.

Students also have had the opportunity to produce television scripts, screenplays, literary novels, science fiction trilogies, books of poetry and collections of short stories.    

Student organizations

English majors may be interested in joining any of the student-run undergraduate organizations affiliated with the Department of English, including:

• English Undergraduate Organization
• Mosaic Undergraduate Art and Literature Magazine
• The Grove: A Creative Writing Community

Students are also invited to join Lord Denney’s Players , the department's theatrical group. Each year, the group provides an opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to engage in intensive experiential learning and research around the annual production of a play or series of plays. 

Possible careers

Having honed their writing and critical thinking skills and their ability to construct persuasive arguments based on evidence, English majors are prepared for entry-level jobs in a wide variety of fields including business, communications, finance, human resources, journalism, marketing, publishing, sales and technology. In addition, they often find employment with non-profit organizations or government agencies, and many go on to attend law school, medical school or business school. 

There are thousands of Ohio State English alumni living and working around the world. They are writers, editors, entrepreneurs, marketers, lawyers, doctors, bloggers, photographers, publicists, professors, financial advisors, human resource managers, business owners, IT specialists, CEOs, and more.

Exploring careers

Each year, the department hosts several events geared towards helping students explore and prepare for their careers after Ohio State. Events include alumni panels, featuring graduates in fields from medicine to consulting to publishing to the law. The department also collaborates with the College of Arts and Sciences Center for Career and Professional Success to offer resume and cover letter workshops, interview prep events and more.

Students can explore career options through Career Connection and the College of Arts and Sciences Career Services Office . Providing complimentary services, Career Connection focuses on helping students establish a career direction, while Career Services assists students with finding internships—experiences that are essential to exploring the suitability of potential career fields. Career Services also assists seniors and recent graduates with their search for entry-level career employment. 

Salary estimates

Graduates of the English program earn salaries that vary based on their chosen career fields and the length of time working in those fields.  

Future students 

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• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

English Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

The Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at The Ohio State University is designed to help graduate students develop to the fullest their talents and abilities as writers of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Creative writing classes are conducted as workshops or tutorials, and there are numerous opportunities for related study both within and beyond the Department of English.

All students are fully funded for three years in a program that is well known for its sense of community and a faculty that is as committed to teaching as to their own writing.  Approximately 36 graduate students are taught by tenure track, visiting, and affiliated (Film Studies) faculty, who also teach in the undergraduate program. Graduate student TAs teach introductory and intermediate special topics undergraduate creative writing courses, undergraduate literary publishing, as well as first-year and second-year writing (required courses for all OSU undergraduates). TAs teach two classes a year, one in autumn and one in spring. In addition, they have the opportunity to work as editors of OSU's prize-winning, nationally distributed literary magazine, The Journal, and to serve on the editorial staff of our two annual book prizes, one in poetry and one in prose.

Course offerings are varied and numerous. Special topics graduate workshops (in the long poem, in characterization, in literary translation, in humor writing, and so on) ensure that, in addition to "regular" workshops, opportunities abound for experimentation. Our graduate program includes coursework designed for "crossing over," such as, poetry workshops for MFA fiction writers or essayists with little experience writing poems; and "forms" classes in prosody, the novel, the memoir, novellas, for example. 

Screenwriting for MFAs is offered regularly, and many students also elect to study playwriting or writing for performance as an elective. Some MFAs choose to pursue the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in the Fine Arts (GISFA), which allows them to take graduate courses in other arts disciplines. Indeed, Ohio State's size and breadth offer our students the chance to explore many disciplines that enrich their study and practice of creative writing.

If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, please contact [email protected] .

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Major code BA5232

College of Arts and Sciences   English Department   Ellis 201 Athens, OH 45701 Fax: 740.593.2832 [email protected] www.ohio.edu/cas/english/

Dr. Carey Snyder , contact person [email protected]

Program Overview

In the English – Creative Writing major, you will engage with genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from the inside out, by generating and revising your own work as well as exploring closely how published work uses the techniques of craft. All creative writing students participate in workshops led by nationally recognized writers which focus on understanding and constructing different literary forms; to achieve these goals, workshops emphasize the study of texts by established writers as well as students’ experimentation with their own creative process. The major is also flexible enough to match your own interests and goals: you can fulfill up to 12 of the required hours in the major with courses focusing on literature, rhetoric, or literary theory, or by combining these with apprenticeship or internship experiences. To ensure a solid foundation in the skills and knowledge that employers and graduate schools expect from any English graduate, the English – Creative Writing major includes the English Core in analysis, research, and literary history. 

Admissions Information

Freshman/first-year admission.

Enrollment in an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

For students currently enrolled at Ohio University, transferring into an English major requires a 2.0 GPA. Students choosing to transfer into the English  – Creative Writing major should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English department for assistance. Students who wish to add an English major in addition to another major program should seek assistance from the director of undergraduate studies; students with a second major outside the College of Arts and Sciences will be responsible for meeting the degree requirements of both the English – Creative Writing major and the College of Arts and Sciences.

External Transfer Admission

For students currently enrolled at institutions other than Ohio University, transferring into an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements. Students should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English Department for assistance.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

After a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and analytical reading as well as multiple genres of writing, English – Creative Writing students enjoy the same wide variety of opportunity upon graduation that other English majors have. Many of our graduates go on to graduate programs, not only M.A. or M.F.A. programs in Creative Writing but also programs in Information Science or Education. Others work in publishing, web content development, grant-writing and community organizing, advertising, or other creative industries. Having invested in developing their own creativity as well as in the well-rounded education that this degree requires, English – Creative Writing students can face the unexpected challenges of the 21 st -century job market with confidence.

Potential employers for those who hold a degree in Creative Writing include, but are certainly not limited to, newspaper and magazine organizations, the entertainment industry, government agencies, institutions of higher education, public and private K-12 schools, publishing companies, marketing agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, etc.

Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.

Requirements

Universitywide graduation requirements.

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other universitywide requirements, please review the  Graduation Requirements – Universitywide    page.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements   .

English Hours Requirement

For a B.A. degree with a major in English - Creative Writing , a student must complete a total of 42 semester credit hours in ENG coursework.

Intercultural Foundations

Complete the following course:

• ENG 1100 - Crossing Cultures with Text Credit Hours: 3

Literary Reading

Complete one of the following courses:

• ENG 2010 - Introduction to Prose Fiction and Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2020 - Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature I

• ENG 2510 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2530 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature II

• ENG 2520 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2540 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3

Intercultural Breadth

Complete one course from the following:

• ENG 3240 - Jewish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3250 - Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3260 - Queer Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3270 - Queer Rhetorics and Writing Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3370 - Black Literature to 1930 Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3380 - Ethnic American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3390 - Black Literature from 1930 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3450 - Intercultural Adaptations: Answering the Anglo-American Literary Canon Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3550 - Global Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3850 - Writing About Culture and Society Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3

Writing and Research

• ENG 3070J - Writing and Research in English Studies Credit Hours: 3

Senior Seminar

• ENG 4600 - Topics in English Studies Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4640 - British Authors Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4650 - American Authors Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Workshops

Complete three of the following workshops with at least one intermediate or advanced workshop:

• ENG 3610 - Creative Writing: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3620 - Creative Writing: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3630 - Creative Writing: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Intermediate:

• ENG 3950 - Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction II Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3960 - Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction II Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3970 - Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4860 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4870 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4880 - Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Form and Theory

• ENG 4810 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4820 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4830 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Major Electives

Complete three additional ENG courses for at least nine hours excluding ENG 2800   , ENG 3***J, ENG 4510   , ENG 4520   , ENG 4911   , and ENG 4912   . Six hours may be at the 2000-level or higher; three hours must be at the 3000-level or higher.

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English—Creative Writing Major B.A.

• Apprenticeship and internship opportunities
• Workshops with renowned authors
• Preparation for M.A. or M.F.A. programs in Creative Writing or Law School
• Preparation for careers in publishing, digital publishing, business, marketing, newspaper and magazines, government, and more
• Sphere , a literary journal run by and for undergraduates

Faculty contact: Dr. Carey Snyder

Admission Information

Degree requirements.

Major code: BA5232

The Creative Writing program offers students a range of beginning, intermediate, and advanced workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Undergraduate Creative Writing majors will take three writing workshops of their choice, in addition to a Form & Theory course. Creative Writing majors, working closely with a distinguished core faculty of professional writers, can enrich their background in literature provided by the English major curriculum with a rigorous apprenticeship to their craft.

In addition, the program regularly invites writers to campus for residency, workshops, and readings. Each year, five eminent authors are invited to participate in the three-day Spring Literary Festival. These visits provide a unique complement to the student's workshop experience.

Many undergraduates publish their writing in Sphere (the undergraduate literary magazine), while others gain valuable editing experience. Undergraduate writers regularly organize formal and informal readings of their own work.

Undergraduate Creative Writing students have gone on to further study in M.F.A. and/or Ph.D. programs in Creative Writing. Many have gone on to publish their work.

Program Overview

In the English – Creative Writing major, students engage with genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from the inside out, by generating and revising their own work as well as exploring closely how published work uses the techniques of craft.

All creative writing students participate in workshops led by nationally recognized writers which focus on understanding and constructing different literary forms; to achieve these goals, workshops emphasize the study of texts by established writers as well as students’ experimentation with their own creative process. The major is also flexible enough to match your own interests and goals: students can fulfill up to 12 of the required hours in the major with courses focusing on literature, rhetoric, or literary theory, or by combining these with apprenticeship or internship experiences.

To ensure a solid foundation in the skills and knowledge that employers and graduate schools expect from any English graduate, the English – Creative Writing major includes the English Core in analysis, research, and literary history. 

Careers and Graduate School

After a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and analytical reading as well as multiple genres of writing, English – Creative Writing students enjoy the same wide variety of opportunity upon graduation that other English majors have.

Many of our graduates go on to graduate programs, not only M.A. or M.F.A. programs in Creative Writing but also programs in information science, education or law. Others work in publishing, web content development, grant-writing and community organizing, advertising, or other creative industries. Having invested in developing their own creativity as well as in the well-rounded education that this degree requires, English – Creative Writing students can face the unexpected challenges of the 21 st -century job market with confidence.

Potential employers for those who hold a degree in Creative Writing include, but are certainly not limited to, newspaper and magazine organizations, the entertainment industry, government agencies, institutions of higher education, public and private K-12 schools, publishing companies, marketing agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, etc.

Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO's key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.

Freshman/First-Year Admission: Enrollment in an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy: For students currently enrolled at Ohio University, transferring into an English major requires a 2.0 GPA. Students choosing to transfer into the English – Creative Writing major should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English department for assistance. Students who wish to add an English major in addition to another major program should seek assistance from the director of undergraduate studies; students with a second major outside the College of Arts and Sciences will be responsible for meeting the degree requirements of both the English – Creative Writing major and the College of Arts and Sciences.

External Transfer Admission: For students currently enrolled at institutions other than Ohio University, transferring into an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements. Students should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English Department for assistance.

• Major code BA5232

University-wide Graduation Requirements

To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.

English Hours Requirement

For a B.A. degree with a major in English - Creative Writing , a student must complete a total of 42 semester credit hours in ENG coursework.

Intercultural Foundations

Complete the following course:

• ENG 1100 - Crossing Cultures with Text Credit Hours: 3

Literary Reading

Complete one of the following courses:

• ENG 2010 - Introduction to Prose Fiction and Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2020 - Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature I

• ENG 2510 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2530 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature II

• ENG 2520 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2540 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3

Intercultural Breadth

Complete one course from the following:

• ENG 3240 - Jewish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3250 - Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3260 - Queer Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3270 - Queer Rhetorics and Writing Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3370 - Black Literature to 1930 Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3380 - Ethnic American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3390 - Black Literature from 1930 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3450 - Intercultural Adaptations Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3550 - Global Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3850 - Writing About Culture and Society Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3

Writing and Research

• ENG 3070J - Writing and Research in English Studies Credit Hours: 3

Senior Seminar

• ENG 4600 - Topics in English Studies Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4640 - British Authors Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4650 - American Authors Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Workshops

Complete three of the following workshops with at least one intermediate or advanced workshop:

• ENG 3610 - Creative Writing: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3620 - Creative Writing: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3630 - Creative Writing: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Intermediate:

• ENG 3950 - Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3960 - Creative Writing Workshop: Short Story Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3970 - Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4860 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4870 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4880 - Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Form and Theory

• ENG 4810 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4820 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4830 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Major Electives

Complete three additional ENG courses for at least nine hours excluding ENG 2800, ENG 3***J, ENG 4510, ENG 4520, ENG 4911, and ENG 4912. Six hours may be at the 2000-level or higher; three hours must be at the 3000-level or higher.

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Course of Study

OSU-Cascades’ Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year 54-74 credit program comprised of synchronous virtual classes, asynchronous coursework, and four ten-day residencies.

To complete the course of study for the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing, the student’s record must indicate the following:

• Full participation in four residency sessions
• An accumulation of 54-74 graduate credits*
• Completion of ethics training seminar
• Broad reading in literature and contemporary letters, as evidenced by the critical introduction to the thesis and the annotated bibliography of 15-18 texts
• A thesis manuscript of literary merit and publishable quality
• Completion of oral examination, per graduate school guidelines

*Subject to change.

Mentor meetings are part of the MFA experience and allow students to interact 1:1 with faculty and are crucial to students’ development as writers. Faculty will coach students through the creation of new material and the revision of existing material, help students connect what they are reading to what they are writing, and provide substantial and consistent feedback on students’ material.

Residencies

Residencies consist of three major components: scheduled academics, writing time and creative exploration events.

During these biannual residency periods, students meet with their cohort of students, core faculty mentors, and distinguished visiting writers. Students should expect to sharpen writing skills, diversify portfolios, establish a community of colleagues and peers, deepen understanding of the writing life and explore the craft of creative writing from a variety of perspectives.

These writing retreats seed conversations between students and their faculty mentors and also, significantly, between students across all genres of study.

Example residency day:

• Morning: optional special topic workshop (topics vary and are unique to faculty interests) or 1:1 faculty mentor meeting.
• Lunch or dinner with the program or your cohort
• Evening literary event
• Plenty of free time for writing, exploring and meeting with faculty or peers.

Curriculum Overview

This is an example and subject to change.

Total Credits: 49 

Required Core: 28 credits  WR 526 Reading for Writers WR 529 Compassionate Critique WR 536 Revision WR 570 Critical Studies: Reading Difference, Power and Privilege WR 571 Critical Studies: Writing Difference, Power and Privilege WR 572 Critical Studies: Community Engagement WR 574 Critical Studies: Critical Introduction WR 503 Thesis WR 538 Creative Writing Pedagogy or WR 542 Publishing WR 502 Independent Study

Foundations     Select four courses from the following: 12 credits WR 550 Poetry Foundations 1: Prosody WR 551 Poetry Foundations 2: Transnational Translations WR 552 Poetry Foundations 3: Poetics WR 553 Poetry Foundations 3: Experimental Forms WR 554 Fiction Foundations 1: Narrative Conventions WR 555 Fiction Foundations 2: Short Fiction WR 556 Fiction Foundations 3: Narrative Design WR 557 Fiction Foundations 4: Experimental Forms  WR 558 Creative Nonfiction Foundations: Narrative WR 559 Creative Nonfiction Foundations: Documentary WR 560 Creative Nonfiction Foundations: Lyric WR 561 Creative Nonfiction Foundations: Experimental Forms Group A     Select one course from the following: 3 credits WR 530 Introduction to Writing Poetry WR 531 Introduction to Writing Fiction WR 532 Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction  WR 539 Creative Writing Workshop in Spanish: Taller de Creación Literaria en Español Group B     Select two courses from the following: 6 credits WR 533 Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop WR 534 Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop WR 535 Advanced Creative Nonfiction WR 539 Creative Writing Workshop in Spanish: Taller de Creación Literaria en Español

Graduate Learning Outcomes

• Produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge
• Demonstrate mastery of subject material
• Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner

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Writing Programs

The Department of English offers a number of writing courses, which fulfill requirements in both the new GE (GEN) and the legacy GE (GEL). The pages linked below offer more information on these courses and which general education requirements they fulfill.

• New GE Information
• Legacy GE Information

For students enrolled autumn 2022 or after

Writing + Information Literacy in English (WIL-E)

• WIL-E Curriculum 
• AP and IB Credit

Writing in the Themes

Business and Professional Writing

Technical + Scientific Writing

For students enrolled before autumn 2022

Writing + Information Literacy in English (WIL-E)  (Formerly First-Year Writing; fulfills the GEL first-year writing requirement)

Second-Year Writing